Mallory Hairpin - how close can you get?

DaveM · 4 Jan 2003, 15:20 (Ref:463584)

In the recently resurrected Crystal Palace thread mention is made of the hairpin at Mallory and what a good place it was to see cars at close quarters. You could get even closer if you were on the inside - viz this shot of Peter Westbury offering to polish a marshals shoes.

DaveM · 4 Jan 2003, 15:23 (Ref:463588)

And you could just about step into Mike-The-Bike's Surtees...

DaveM · 4 Jan 2003, 15:29 (Ref:463596)

BTW, Westbury in F2 BT30 entered by his Felday team and Hailwood in the works F5000 TS8, both in 71 (but not the same date!).

M Coupe · 4 Jan 2003, 23:27 (Ref:463961)

Dave,

I haven't been there for a couple of years but you could get as close as the people on the outside of the circuit in the first picture when i was there.

DNQ · 6 Jan 2003, 01:17 (Ref:464966)

What condition is Mallory Park in today? I know it from GPL, I'd be interested to hear how it's ended up.

djb · 6 Jan 2003, 05:08 (Ref:465044)

I have mentioned this before, but seeing shots like these makes we dream of a time machine that would allow me to pop back and spend time at circuits like this. This summer I had the opportunity to have a photo pass for the Montreal CART race, and appreciated the access to shooting areas very much, but this stuff is fantastic.

Should mention that I am very aware of the inherent dangers of track layouts and access points like this, but as it is unlikely that I will in fact be able to pop back in time with some era appropriate camera gear, I can day dream and not worry about getting clobbered by a flying wheel or Mike the bike.

cheers

Rob29 · 6 Jan 2003, 08:47 (Ref:465107)

Quote:

Originally posted by M Coupe
Dave,

I haven't been there for a couple of years but you could get as close as the people on the outside of the circuit in the first picture when i was there.

More than a couple of years since you could stand at the hairpin I think.M Coupe?
And work has just started on a chicane between Stebbe Straight & the Esses. Hopefully it will be like the one after the hairpin,that is used only by bikes.

Dave Brand · 6 Jan 2003, 09:14 (Ref:465123)

Quote:

Originally posted by Rob29
More than a couple of years since you could stand at the hairpin I think.M Coupe?
And work has just started on a chicane between Stebbe Straight & the Esses. Hopefully it will be like the one after the hairpin,that is used only by bikes.

There's still good spectator access at the hairpin - the picture doesn't look all that much different to how it is nowadays. Of course, the inside is much better - that's where I spent Boxing Day!

As for the new layout at the Esses, I'm not sure whether it will be used for both cars & bikes, but I suspect it will.

neilwaynesmith · 6 Jan 2003, 17:30 (Ref:465479)

The new layout is mostly in response the fatalities and sheer magnitude of 'how-did-they-walk-away-from-that?' type incidents that have occurred recently.

As for standing on the apex of the hairpin, it is a unique and breathtaking experience, especially on the first lap!!!!

**Peter Mallett** · 7 Jan 2003, 06:17 (Ref:465996)

Quote:

Originally posted by neilwaynesmith
..................................As for standing on the apex of the hairpin, it is a unique and breathtaking experience, especially on the first lap!!!!

Try it from inside the car then

This is the only one I've got showing a mildly crowded Shaws. This was the second lap and I was overtaking the black car.

gfm · 7 Jan 2003, 13:08 (Ref:466284)

Big act of faith Peter- around the outside! I tried that once with Martin Brundell in the Walkinshaw BMWs. Only he took the opportunity to dismiss me (spun me out). *******! ;-)

**Peter Mallett** · 7 Jan 2003, 13:32 (Ref:466314)

Can't believe Martin would do such a thing but I have to say that Martin West (in the black Capri) and I have raced closely without touching a few times.

My favourite outside overtaking move was at Castle Coombe in 1999 in a very wet race at the last corner before the start/finish line. I passed about three cars on the apex and apparently it was a crowd pleaser. Unfortunately I only did it because I was travelling to bloody fast to slow down!

M Coupe · 7 Jan 2003, 23:01 (Ref:466798)

Rob,

I've got a few pics which once I fix my scanner (hopefully tomorrow) I'll post which I took there a couple of years ago. You can't stand on the outside other than at the exit side but you could still get fairly close.

Mark

Andrew Kitson · 10 Jan 2003, 15:16 (Ref:470285)

Quote:

Originally posted by Peter Mallett
This is the only one I've got showing a mildly crowded Shaws. This was the second lap and I was overtaking the black car.

Peter - are you sure that is not Gordon Spice going around the outside of La Source in the Belga Capri in the 1981 Spa 24 Hours?

Andrew Kitson · 10 Jan 2003, 15:18 (Ref:470289)

Seriously though - here are a couple of shots I took at MP
a few years back. It is virtually unchanged save for new armco and a better spectator fence but thankfully, no large wire fence to spoil the view.

Andrew Kitson · 10 Jan 2003, 15:21 (Ref:470294)

The hairpin itself and in the background - The Kirkby Mallory Coachhouse - The local village pub should one develop a thirst between races!

Andrew Kitson · 10 Jan 2003, 15:24 (Ref:470300)

BMWs approach the hairpin. As previously posted, a great place to take pictures, if you can get a press pass that is!
Scary too, especially with cars that interlock wheels easily
such as FF1600.

djb · 11 Jan 2003, 02:32 (Ref:470887)

Quote:

[i]Originally posted by Andrew Kitson [/i
Scary too, especially with cars that interlock wheels easily such as FF1600. [/B]

exactly my thoughts Andrew. There doesn't seem to be much runoff room straight on is there, unless of course you mean entering the pub at a gallop!

In one of your shots, hasn't that tree been there for ever and ever? I seem to recall it in old film clips that I haave seen from there.

Andrew Kitson · 11 Jan 2003, 09:41 (Ref:470989)

Yes djb, that tree does seem to have been there forever.
Chris Meek, owner of Mallory, gave me a nice book a couple of years ago that he commissioned about the history of the estate and the aristocratic families that lived there. In the grounds, just near the coach house and still standing is the 'Byron' tree. It is said that Lord Byron used to sit under it on a hot sunny day writing.

neilwaynesmith · 11 Jan 2003, 11:58 (Ref:471061)

It's also VERY good to hide behind.

Especially on the first lap of a 750 Stock Hatch Race

djb · 11 Jan 2003, 20:01 (Ref:471383)

well, you learn something everyday don't you?

and neil, do you mean a 750cc bike race (don't get the "hatch" reference, as in hatchback, as in car)?

DaveM · 11 Jan 2003, 23:20 (Ref:471541)

Dug out this shot from the FF race during the F2 meeting on 14th March 71. I took it from Devils Elbow looking towards Shaws hairpin, and you can see where the spectators were allowed to stand in those days. It was a great place to watch from and there were a lot of incidents there - a haven for the demon late brakers!

DaveM · 11 Jan 2003, 23:24 (Ref:471548)

Photographers at work (I think that's Nigel Snowdon standing). Taken at the same meeting - Derek Bell's March 712M entered by Frank Williams.

DaveM · 11 Jan 2003, 23:57 (Ref:471584)

A quote from davemorganfan in the F3 thread: "Ah, a good lad, Mr Maskell. I think he was the only one who dared to appear in one of those seriously ugly Chevron B18s in 1971."

Jo Siffert ran two that year for himself and Xavier Perrot, and here the latter is chased by Jeremy Richardson at Mallory. They finished 7th and 6th respectively on aggregate of two heats.

DaveM · 12 Jan 2003, 00:21 (Ref:471609)

Siffert himself didn't figure in the results following an accident in the first heat, although he finished 5th in the second.

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